Crazy And Mixed Up

Time to rejoice, as the tireless enthusiasts running the Numero Group emporium deliver the goods again. Basement Beehive, a delicious two-disc compilation of obscure girl groups from the swinging sixties, overflows with danceable minidramas to make you laugh or cry.

Paulette & The Cupids - Teenage Dropout

Colors Have Faded

Ronnie Lane gets wistful. Which is always a good thing.

Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane - Annie

From The Deep

Tunng's latest dream letter has arrived, a vital sign of life from an always intriguing bunch of musicians. With founding member Sam Genders finally lured back into the fold, their patented folktronica blend sounds fresh, funky and full of surprises once again. "I know you have a gift for me..."

Tungg - Crow

Mind Games

Lounge music for deadheads? The strictly instrumental jazzrock of Neil Casal and pals may be impeccably constructed and played, but them cheesy synths really are pushing it. A tad too slick for me alas, my amigos da musica.

Circles Around The Sun - On My Mind

Bells Of Heaven

Hey now, not enough dough or stamina to get lost in that massive new Pacific Northwest ’73-’74 Grateful Dead box set? Solace is found in the form of a handy three disc sampler of highlights called Believe It If You Need It. All aboard? Let's hit the north with Jerry & co.

Grateful Dead - China Doll (live Seattle '74)

In My Circulation

Just got the sad news that Johnny Strike has passed away. The singer of obscure but great San Francisco punk pioneers Crime, real name Gary John Bassett, was 70. The fierce slab of noise called Hot Wire My Heart, Crime's first single from '76, is a bona fide punk classic. Miss him.

Crime - Hot Wire My Heart
Crime - Piss On Your Dog

Rivers Of My Memory

Staying with miss Gentry a while longer, as her duet with Glen Campbell on John Hartford's stone immortal country classic is very tasty indeed.

Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell - Gentle On My Mind

Going Mad

Before the immortal Ode To Billie Joe and a highly succesful showbiz career, Bobbie Gentry sang a couple of duets on a session for Jody Reynolds, he of Endless Sleep fame. When Ode became an unexpected smash, Requiem For Love, a creditable track in Nancy & Lee mode, was reissued, opportunistically with Gentry's name now first on the label. Must have pissed Reynolds off for sure.

Jody Reynolds & Bobbie Gentry - Requiem For Love
Jody Reynolds & Bobbie Gentry - Stranger In The Mirror

Space Place

Back with a beauty. Shabaka Hutchings follows the spaceways of Sun Ra and co here, and it's a pleasure to tag along. Got this from a fine fine sampler called We Out Here, filled to the brim with equally adventurous contemporary London jazz cats. Much recommended, my amigos da musica.

Shabaka Hutchings - Black Skin, Black Masks